Ruta Satam | GOQii

September 13, 2018 By Ruta Satam 4 Comments

GO GREEN this Ganesh Chathurthi

The environment is paramount. If we keep our environment clean it automatically creates a healthy atmosphere for us to live healthily. The environment encompasses a whole lot but, among all environmental issues ‘pollution’ is one issue that is widely talked about as it affects all of us on a daily basis. It is no secret that the city deals with a lot of pollution after Ganesh Chaturthi, let’s take a look at the various things we can do to compensate or speed up damage control.

In a year old report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) 13 of the top 20 most polluted cities are from India. Interestingly, Delhi tops the chart and has six times the levels of airborne particulate matter than are considered safe. With each passing day it is getting bad to worse.

Due to constant exploitation of natural resources we have endangered ourselves and our future generation. With the growing population our needs have also been constantly growing. However there have been no efforts taken to restore these natural resources on an individual level!

The way we take care of that expensive electronic gadget is different from the way we take care of the green tree in our vicinity. The difference is we are incapable of understanding the loss of the rare natural resources.

Each time we use any natural resource, it seldom occurs to us how we are going to reproduce the same rare resource. The day we decide to think about our future generation, it is the day when we will put efforts to save environment

One of the recent examples set by Mr. KaustubhTamhankar a common man from Thane, Maharashtra has proved that he can lead an eco-friendly lifestyle. For the past 12 years he has not generated a single piece of garbage in his house. How has he been able to do this? Very systematically everyday he segregates wet and dry garbage in his house. With the wet garbage he makes vermin-compost. It is his determination and motivation that has kept him going. Today, he has also encouraged his neighbors to do the same.

Going green is easier than you think. There are little things you can do every day to help reduce greenhouse gases and make a less harmful impact on the environment. Taking care of the Earth is not just a responsibility — it’s a privilege.

If you search through the internet you will find thousands of ways on how do we adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle but the real struggle is to adopt.

Some of the simple ways which could become a part of your eco-friendly lifestyle could be:

Reuse, Recycle, Reduce:These help to cut down on the amount of waste we throw away. They conserve natural resources, landfill space and energy.
Go Solar: Increasing demand for electric power has resulted in many businesses resorting to alternative sources of energy. Solar energy is a sustainable choice and one that can be used in various applications.
Carpooling: Carpooling reduces air pollution and traffic congestion, something that benefits all of us! It saves money and reduces congestion on our roads and highways. For short distances use a bi-cycle to travel its pollution free and healthy.
Plant trees: The simple act of planting a tree benefits the environment in many ways-from filtering air to reducing soil erosion, creating shade and helping recycle water.
Conserve water: Water conservation is the most effective and environmentally sound method to fight global warming and help in reducing scarcity of water.

If we all do our part we can help reverse the effects of global warming. We owe it to ourselves and each other to help make a difference.

April 3, 2017 By Ruta Satam Leave a Comment

Good Karma brings Wellbeing

Total karma points donated: 19,497,588

Total money raised: 47million rupees (Rs 4.7 Crore)

Total causes featured: 25

Good intent resulting in good deed contributes to good karma and future happiness. It has been scientifically proven that the act of giving generates personal happiness and overall wellbeing. At GOQii, the karma philosophy has been to achieve harmony between mind, body & soul.

The year 2016 has been fantastic for GOQii and for all the causes featured on its Karma platform. The causes were successfully completed and funded with GOQii players’ karma point contribution. The Donor partner converted the contributed karma points to actual money and the impact that has been created is incredible.

Below are some highlights from our NGO partners and their work that GOQii has supported:

(I) Oxfam India

Highlights:

Violence against Women: This continues to be one of the most prevalent and least recognised human rights violations in the world. One in every two women in India experience violence in their daily life.

Oxfam India under its Gender Justice theme has been addressing the issue of violence against women in 13 states of the country through various programs and campaigns.This program brings policy level changes through continuous engagement with Government through civil society and improved access for survivors of domestic violence to support services and the formal justice system.

Under this project, Oxfam India empowered 1.92 lakh men, women, boys and girls on the issues of violence against women.

37299 women also received training on various laws, schemes and acts and are leading community actions at various levels.

This program has created a positive impact in the lives of women who have been a victim of domestic violence. One such inspiring story is of Leela;

Leela, a mother of four children, from UP tolerated her husband’s anger for a long time. Until one night, he tried to strangle her. She reached out to a local NGO supported by Oxfam. Leela’s husband appeared at the NGO’s office that evening, drunk and threatened to attack her if she did not return with him. The counsellors informed the local police and he was taken to the police station for the night. A day later he came back, repentant and with the promise that he would not abuse Leela.

Leela returned home and the neighbours were asked to keep an eye on her husband and to report if any abusive behaviour was suspected. Gradually, Leela’s husband gave up drinking.

This terrible experience had convinced Leela that other women in her situation could also be helped. A week later, she was back at the centre, with another woman survivor. Since then, she has helped many women approach the centre.

Leela has also had a makeover—from an unsure woman who once believed that it was her fate to suffer, she has become a confident person who knows she can help others.

Oxfam’s Disaster relief program:

Disasters and poverty are closely linked to each other. The greater the severity and frequency of crises, the greater the humanitarian need.

Oxfam India along with other affiliates impacted about 271,874 people directly in Nepal through its various relief initiatives and helped them rebuild their lives after the earthquake. Oxfam India supported 50000 persons during South India flood response programme. 8000 households were supported with hygiene kit, Non-Food Items (NFI), and dry food.

(II) Greensole

Greensole, recycles discarded shoes to comfortable footwear, keeping those without shoes away from landfills and provide them to the neediest through corporates, NGOs and schools.

In 2016, Greensole reached a milestone of donating footwear to 50,000 people. The donation drive touched 89 rural schools.

(III) Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust

Food Project:

RatnaNidhi Charitable trust’s Food for Education program distributed free food prepared in RNCT’s kitchens on a daily basis. The food is distributed to poor children attending any formal or non-formal educational class.

In 2016, ShehzadisRatna Nidhi Charitable Trust distributed food to 37 School touching 4500 Kids with 1 Meal every day. The programme had been very effective in arresting the drop-out rate in schools.

Disability project:

RatnaNidhi Charitable Trust’s Disability project gave a new life to 874 disabled people who had been deprived of their basic privileges of mobility and hearing. These persons with disability have gained their self-confidence back and are now living a normal life and have the potential to become contributing members of society.

One of the success stories in this project is of Shehzad is

an orphan who hasbeen raised by his paternal uncle in the slums of Govandi, Mumbai. His uncle is a daily wage worker earning just a handful. Sehzad grew up taking up the same job as his uncle after finishing his primary education.

On a doomful day, he was carrying an Oxygen cylinder which exploded, and that accident cost him both his legs. He got his initial treatment done at a local hospital at Bhiwandi and was then transferred to Sir J.J Hospital and later to All India Institute of Physical Medicines at Haji Ali.

While his treatment was on, he was introduced to RatnaNidhimedical centre where he was provided with a lighter and comfortable prosthesis. Shehzadis now very active and happy at his workplace working as a tailor, stitching his dreams together.

Educational sponsorship for victims affected during terror attacks:

This program of RatnaNidhi Charitable trust has given dependents of the terror victims a ray of hope in the form of educational sponsorship. The sponsorships are given out for a period of 5 years, wherein a minimum of Rs.5000 a year and additionally Rs.10000 to those pursuing higher education, graduation and post-graduation, was offered. The progress of the beneficiaries was tracked and monitor every six months. 93 kids were supported in 2016.

Age Group	Total number of kids
6 to 10	11
11 to 13	19
14 to 17	32
18 and above	31
Total	93

To conclude, Karmais rooted in our choices. By making better choices today we can improve our wellness karma in the future and experience a more vibrant state of health.

March 1, 2017 By Ruta Satam 1 Comment

Enable the disabled to walk again

Help change the lives of 400 persons with disabilities in Ladakh, Kashmir

It’s so difficult for most able bodied person to accept a person with disability. But, they aren’t asking much. All that these individuals need is love, empathy and a sense of belonging.

Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust is just about doing that. The organisation is committed to the welfare of people from the most underprivileged strata of society without distinction of caste, creed or colour. Its emphasis is on assisting the children and youth who are the citizens of tomorrow and the disabled who need a support to help them join mainstream society.

The organisation is changing the lives of 400 disabled people in Ladakh, by donating Jaipur Foots, Wheelchairs, Callipers, etc. enabling them to walk again. The organisation is on a mission to give persons with disabilities from disadvantaged backgrounds the freedom to walk and move again. The aim is to transform the lives of the disadvantaged and disabled people to become contributing members of the society, instead of being perceived as a burden to their families.

MOBILITY CAMP AT LEH

A camp will be organised in June 2017 at Mahabodhi International Meditation Center (MIMC) in Leh, with a mission to impact the lives of 400 physically challenged patients.

The camp will provide the following services to the disabled

Fitting of Jaipur foot prosthetic to amputees.
Distribution of wheelchairs to people with spinal cord disabilities
Fitting of Callipers to polio-affected children/youth.

A screening camp will be organised under the presence of Ratnanidhi’s technical team prior to the distribution camp. The technical team will then manufacture the Jaipur foot & Callipers at Ratna Nidhi’s Mumbai centre. Post which, the distribution camp will be organised in Leh-Ladakh in the month of June 2017.

This camp will target patients from the most isolated regions of Ladakh & will empower the disabled to walk in the mountains with pride and self-esteem. This camp will be conducted at an altitude of 11000 ft above sea level.

As part of GOQii’s Karma initiatives, its partnership with Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust has been established to promote and support the different social initiatives undertaken by the NGO. Some of the projects that GOQii’s has supported and promoted in the past on its Karma platform in the GOQii App were Food for Education, Education sponsorship project to victims affected during terror attacks and the health and mobility project.

GOQii is now supporting the ‘Disability’ camp project to be held in Leh, Ladakh in June wherein 400 persons with disability will be empowered with wheel chair, Jaipur foot and callipers to walk in the mountains with pride and self-esteem.

A small donation of Rs 2500 will help Ratna Nidhi provide prosthetics or a wheelchair to 1 person attending the camp.

http://www.ratnanidhi.in/health-and-disability/Lets-change-the-lives-of-400-disabled-people-in-Ladakh

January 3, 2017 By Ruta Satam 1 Comment

2016 Report Card: Karma activities at GOQii

GOQii has been working with Non-profit organizations as its Karma partners in promoting and spreading awareness for different causes. Karma activities are also based on the premise that doing Karma keeps you healthy. Just to reiterate inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s journey of 390 KM, for every 390 steps tracked through your GOQii activity tracker band, you earn one Karma point. These points are then converted into monetary donations that is donated to charity sponsored by our Karma partner.

It’s been two successful years now and we have charities listed on the GOQii app that are successfully funded by the Donor partners.

Here are two recent causes that we have contributed to.

Millions of children in India go to bed hungry because their parents/guardians are not able to purchase food for them. Most of them drop out from schools so that they can help their parents and supplement the family income.

Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust’s-Food for Education Program distributes free food prepared at our kitchens on a daily basis, to poor children if they attend any formal or non-formal educational class. It thus combines food with education-we now have a child who is educated and well fed also. The programme has been very effective in arresting the drop-out rate in schools.

Ratna Nidhi’s food has been treated by the beneficiaries as “Homely Balanced and Tasty”. Not for profit, the food has a flavour of compassion, and tender loving care.

As of today, the organisation feeds more than 4500 Children daily through its approximately 50 centres all over Mumbai including the suburbs. The Mid Day Meal is cooked at the Food Center by the special team of cooks under Ratna Nidhi’s representatives’ direct supervision.

The food partners are identified carefully and after the detailed need evaluation. These are generally Non-aided vernacular schools who do not qualify for the Govt. Mid-Day-Meal, Pre-schools in Urban Areas, Night schools who do not receive any of the welfare benefits and Street Children NGO’s who provide shelter.

The meals are packed for various partner schools and Balwadis. A special delivery system ensures that the food reaches the children by lunch time on a daily basis.

A simple meal for children each day that improves nourishment, increase weight, boosted attentiveness in class and ensures a healthy educated future.

Empowering Women against Violence:-

Moving from children let us now talk of women empowerment. After children, it’s the women who get abused the most and hence empowering women against violence is paramount.

How often have you come across a story in the newspapers or television about violence against women? Every day is the answer. Violence against women and girls is a bitter reality in India. As many as one-third of women and girls in the age group 15-49 have experienced physical violence, about one in 10 have experienced some form of sexual violence [Source: National Family Health Survey Round III (2005-2006)].

Yet, violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, is unavoidable. Many of us think and justify that violence by intimate partners is normal, and therefore acceptable. We need to change this very thinking that normalises violence against women and girls. We all have a role in preventing such violence.

The story of a 9 year old girl Mynah, who was married to a 20-year-old man, is an example to stand up against violence. Her husband repeatedly subjected her to intimate partner violence. After hearing of her experience, counsellors of Oxfam India advised Mynah to file a case under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. Mynah took the brave decision to take control of her life. She continued with her studies, with the court’s intervention, she has got compensation. She has also remarried according to her own wish.

Oxfam India programmes are currently active in the six focus states of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.

Oxfam India has been working to reduce the acceptance of violence against women and girls. They have reached out to more than 42,000 women to end violence in their lives and established 23 support centres within formal and informal locations to provide psycho-social counselling and legal aid to women facing this issue in their lives.

Together, we need to make sure that perceptions, attitudes and behaviours towards women and girls change so that gender-based discrimination comes to an end. With your help, this is what Oxfam India hopes to achieve in the future through supporting women like Mynah.

What has GOQii been doing in the Karma space in the last two years?

Here are some of the activities that we have conducted for players as well as our employees in the last two years…..

One of the biggest on ground Karma event that we are a part of is the 100 KM Oxfam Trailwalk where GOQii players and employees participate and walk 100 km to raise awareness and support a cause.

Part from this we have had regular activities in GOQii office. This year we had a session with Greensole, a social venture that collects discarded shoes, refurbishes them and makes comfortable footwear for the underprivileged.

We also did something interesting this Christmas. While last year we went to a home that housed children with Cancer and spent few hours with the kids by playing and dancing with them, this year we celebrated Christmas in the most unique way. GOQii employees played secret santa to orphaned children of an orphanage in Chembur and also employees pledged for various basic commodities like Rice, dal, wheat, Oil etc and donated to the orphanage.